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G8MNY > BCAST 19.09.06 23:10l 109 Lines 5706 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : D9GIS0HHA003
Read: DK5RAS GUEST
Subj: Redhill's MW DX station 27th Aug
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0MRW<DK0WUE<DB0RES<ON0AR<IW2OAZ<IS0HHA
Sent: 060913/1758z @:IS0HHA.ISAR.ITA.EU [OpenBCM] OBcm1.06
From: G8MNY @ IS0HHA.ISAR.ITA.EU (Tony)
To: BCAST @ WW
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R:060913/1745Z @:IS0HHA.ISAR.ITA.EU #:26297 [26896] FBB7.01.35 alpha
R:060830/1447z @:IW2OAZ.ILOM.ITA.EU $:44330_GB7CIP
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R:060830/1446Z @:CX2SA.LAV.URY.SA #:43567 [Minas] FBB7.00e $:44330_GB7CIP
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R:060830/1402Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU #:44330 [Caterham] $:44330_GB7CIP
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU
To : BCAST@WW
Hi Readers,
For the 13th year running a group of enthusiasts (several Hams G8MNY
G6IXM G4WGD G3TWJ) have put on a local charity fund raising 28 day broadcast
radio station (Restricted Service Licence) on air from end of August from
studios at a youth centre in Merstham near Redhill (M25/M23 junction), again
this time in AM.
The station is called "SUSY RADIO" (SUssex & SurreY). Any profits this time go
to local charities.
The move from VHF to MW came about by accident 6 years ago after 3 facts came
together. 1/ a donation of an old Decca Navigator 80002A LW Tx (ex 300kHz
aircraft MCW beacon) that could just do the LF end of MW,
2/ a studio site that could take a large wire aerial system,
3/ and also the œ1K reduction in MW Licences compared to FM.
The restricted 28 day licenced only permits a low power of 1W ERP on our chosen
(nearest to LF for Tx) 531kHz using vertical polarisation, from a VERY small
20M high aerial (radiating bit). As with the LF ham band, the LF end of MW band
needs a large amounts of power to obtain the 1W ERP from such a small aerial
with such a low ground height & the short aerial on only a 1/14 of a dipole
tall! Ideally a 141M tall copper tower with a few square kMs of copper sheet is
need to get 1W ERP from a 1W Tx!
The plus side of all this effort is that at this end of MW, the wanted ground
wave propagation is much much bigger than at the other end of the MW, or for
that matter at VHF, in fact about three times a far as at 1600kHz, about 150km
is possible.
The underlying site's ground conditions have usually been wet (bit of a valley
bottom) so the signal normally gets out well. The Tx & aerial system has been
inspected by the radio regulator Ofcom & all was OK despite the DX reports.
In EU, 531kHz is the 1st channel on the MW band so a Rx will pick it up first,
and it is a fairly clear frequency in the UK during the day, at night there are
3 100KW station, a Swiss German speaking, a Spanish & a Fairo Isle, these
dramatically reduce the coverage area down to the typical FM RSL coverage due
to the heavy slow beating QRM.
This is the 6th time MW has been used for the radio station, The 1st time we
had very good Dx reports from far afield such as YORK, SUNDERLAND, HOLLAND &
the south coast, from listeners at QRM free locations. Mains, SMPS & Broadband
QRM can be a major problem at this end of MW! There is usually a Dxers Program
on the last week so stay listening for details.
The station is live from the studio 24 hours a day with a real mixture of
presenters young-old, playing music mainly 60-2000s no PLAY LIST, local traffic
& Wx information, phone-ins, national news etc.
The various licence costs are high compared to permenant local radio station,
for a 28 day AM RSL station, they are:-
DTI RA & RA Broadcast, about œ1200, (œ2,500 FM)
Performing Rights Society, about œ900, } N.B. not all published
Phonographic Performance, approx œ1150, } material is covered!
Mechanical Copying & Reproduction, œ60. } eg BBC records.
(Band3 1 Watt, RA stereo Link licence œ480. if Tx not co-sited)
In anyone's language this is "an arm and several legs" even for a fund raising
station! Direct sponsorship & adverts from major companies generally covers all
the fixed costs, any profit goes to the nominated charity. A œ28K sunshine
coach was recently been given partly by SUSY after several radio events in the
past.
SUSY Radio is also on the Internet "http//www.susyradio.com" where pictures of
the station aerial & Tx (with me) & presenters seen also the site streams LIVE
AUDIO in both stereo (broadband) & mono all the time.
EMAIL studio@susyradio.com for request/DX reports etc. Requests etc, cam be
phoned to the studio on Tel 0870 7650531 (nat call rate) or 01737 644259.
For general RSL/engineering information packet me or telephone the station
manager Colin G4WGD on 01737 643767 Mon-Sat 09:00-17:00 (except Wednesday)
DX Reception reports would be much appreciated, to me/Colin/Email.
Needless to say broadcast engineering eg. O.B. links, Digital Satellite links,
Phone systems, Computer Audio sources, Computer logging, Hifi audio sources,
Studio mixers, Stereo/AM limiters, Stereo coders, RDS coders, fixed radio
links, Broadcast Tx & Aerials systems, are just a little bit different from
mainstream Amateur Radio.
If anyone or a club would like a technical visit (or talk?) or would like to be
involved with the station please RSVP me.
Last year dispute the groups experience & history, it failed in a bid for a 5
year community licence. Following a "freedom of information act" enquiry, that
showed evidence of Ofcom failures, a high level complaint has gone into the
head of Ofcom (regulator) over their faulty selection process. If this is
fruitless a legal challenge (judicial review) may result!
See my bul on the "1W 531kHz MW aerial system".
73 de John (eng team) G8MNY @ GB7CIP
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